Diabetes Care Center
Signs and symptoms
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body breaks down sugar. It causes your body to have too much sugar in the blood. It could also be that you do not have enough insulin, a hormone that helps your body break down the sugar in the food you eat to give you energy.
About 29.1 million Americans have diabetes. Diabetes is a serious disease. It's currently the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Some forms of diabetes are more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, as well as older people.
What are the warning signs?
Here are the most common symptoms of diabetes:
- Feeling hungry and/or thirsty all the time
- Going to the bathroom a lot
- Blurred vision
- Feeling tired
- Unexplained weight loss/gain
- Cuts that heal slowly
- Hands/feet feel tingly
What happens if I don't control my diabetes?
You can have diabetes and still say "I am healthy" by following these everyday healthy habits.
If you do not have control of your diabetes, it can:
- Cause you to go blind, get kidney disease, and have foot problems
- Make it easier to get infections and/or wounds that will not heal
- Put you at a higher risk of getting heart disease or having a stroke
- Cause you to have nerve damage
- Make you feel tired, thirsty and have to go to the bathroom much more than usual
How can I control my diabetes and say "I am healthy"?
You can still live a full and active life with diabetes. Here's how:
- If you have any risks and/or warning signs, talk with your doctor right away
- Get all your tests and exams as recommended by your doctor
- Ask your doctor questions —stay informed
- Follow these healthy habits
- Get connected with our special health programs.
For more information on diabetes, please visit www.diabetes.org.
Other resources
- Signs and Symptoms — Millions of people are diagnosed with diabetes every year. Are you at risk?
- Find a Provider— Select providers from our skilled and extensive network.
- Tests and Exams — Find out which tests and exams are important for people with diabetes or those at risk for diabetes.
- Questions for your doctor — It's hard to know what to ask. Find out what you need to know.
- Everyday Healthy Habits — Here's what you can do—every day—to take steps toward better health.